Illegal immigrant living in Northamptonshire who tried to use fake passport to claim benefits is jailed

Callum Jones

A Ukrainian woman who tried to use a fake Latvian passport to claim benefits in Northamptonshire has been jailed for eight months.

Valentyna Gorshkova, aged 29, of Cambridge Street, Wellingborough, appeared at Northampton Crown Court after she pleaded guilty to possessing a fake ID and attempting to commit fraud.

The court heard Gorshkova entered the UK in 2011 after she paid £3,500 to be smuggled into the country from Poland.

In March this year, Gorshkova went into a Job Centre Plus and attempted to use a fake Latvian passport to get a National Insurance number so she could claim tax credits and child benefits.

However, the document was revealed as a fake and Gorshkova was arrested.

Maxine Krone, mitigating, said her client had an extremely difficult upbringing as her parents had died when she was 16 years old and her tow brothers, who were responsible for her, both had alcohol problems.

Judge Lynn Tayton sentenced Gorshkova to eight months in prison. She is likely to serve half before being released on licence.